The American Heiress: A Novel [Paperback]

I love and hate this book. It contains superb writing, but I'm sorry to say the story bummed me out. This is just as beautiful a book as the cover hints at, full of the lives of many different people of several classes. I enjoyed the first part of the book so much, I can barely bring myself to say that I didn't like it in the end.

Cora is a rich "new money" American girl who is pushed by her mother to find a titled husband in Europe. The time period and custom of classes seemed flawless and I really enjoyed seeing both the master and servant life. It has a sort of Titanic -like all encompassing view of life in the 1890's that explores much more than just Cora's life. Through the eyes of her black (but free) maid, Bertha, we get to see Cora from an outsiders viewpoint, which is rather fun.

The writer has an excellent command of language and style and I would give other works of hers a chance. Descriptive passages like, "The white limestone houses, clustered along the cliffs like a collection of wedding cakes..." are so beautiful, they really transport you into her scenes. Also, it is quite entertaining to see Cora's mother try to be the most extravagant but ultimately set herself ablaze at THE ball of the season.

In fact, there is nothing in the beginning of the book that would have warned me what I was getting into. By the middle of the book, I was so caught up in Cora's life that I felt protective of her and angry that she could not see the scandal being set up around her. With every comment Cora didn't catch and trick she fell for, I got angrier. I am not a fan of infidelity and this book seemed to say that no one could possibly live a life of monogamy. Every marriage is filled with deceit, flirtations with others, and unhappiness covered with plastic smiles. Not only is Cora constantly set up and laughed at for being an American, even after her marriage into title, she is treated as a "stupid girl" who doesn't deserve the common courtesy required by society for a Duchess. Cora is cast as the type of girl that should have demanded (because of her wealth and beauty) to be treated well. Yet, at every turn her innocent life is tested with evil people who care nothing of others and think only of the next "game" - the goal of which seems to be corrupting innocent people's lives. And instead of growing stronger and smarter and rising above the debacle, Cora plunges head first into it. She gives up her good morals and in the end, settles. I don't believe the "coming clean" scene at the end from her husband in the least. I was rooting for Cora from the beginning and even through all the scandal and the fact that everyone knew more about her husband's affairs than she did... I was hoping she would get smart and pull through. Whether she stayed with her husband or not, I was hoping she would stand up for herself and demand the respect of others. I was so angry at the end of the book, I threw it across the room.

I guess you could point out that The American Heiress, even though it plunged me into helpless despair, did raise passionate feelings in me - however unpleasant. I'm sure there are those who would enjoy this book and I don't mean to deter you, but know what you're getting yourself into. I don't find the ending in the least bit satisfying and categorizing it as a "romance" is misleading. Period piece? Yes, but not a happy ending romance.

Reading Daisy Goodwin's novel American Heiress was a bit like reading a tabloid magazine about today's celebrities. In American Heiress, Cora Cash is one of the wealthiest American young women in the 1890's--the gilded age. Cora is already worth a fortune but her status-seeking mother schemes to marry her off to a titled but money-troubled English gentleman. Cora is OK with that plan if it means that she can escape her mother's control. The press and the admiring young fans crowd the streets for a glimpse of Cora at her elaborate wedding to Duke Wareham. Cora thrives on the attention but her wedding day is even more perfect because she has married for love.

However, is this highly educated and groomed young woman really ready for the stuffy and proper English gentility? And did her duke marry for love or money?

Goodwin's novel is a very entertaining read. I had a hard time putting it down to go to sleep each night this week. Reminding me of Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence with it's decadence and moral themes, this novel is full of fresh plot twists and elegant but ultimately self-serving characters. Cora, while narcissistic and conceited, is so young and naive that I couldn't help but hope the best for her as she stumbles her way through the English protocol and the intrigue that awaits in her new life.

By turns romantic and tragic, American Heiress lured me in with details of the extravagant lifestyles of the extremely wealthy but captured and held my attention with a well-paced plot and fabulously delicious and devious characters. It's a "guilty pleasure" but not too guilty, because Goodwin is pretty good at keeping the details of the "bedroom" scenes brief and discreet.

This is one enthralling summer read.

I didn't pick up this book expecting Henry James or Edith Wharton but really, for the most part this novel covers oh so familiar ground without any new twists.

Rich and unworldly, but outspoken American girl in England to marry a title. Mission accomplished but then she discovers qualities in M'Lord that leave her bewildered and unhappy.

Does the Duke love her or his ex-girlfriend? The plot revolves around this question.

There's an unstairs-downstairs element to the story as we watch the heiress' lady's maid (who is Black) experience the lack of color prejudice among her lower class peers.

The Duke is a totally cardboard character: His motivation at the beginning was not made clear and at the end it was tritely predictable. The heiress, then Duchess, is a bit more real though not very interesting. The lady's maid came off as the most fully realized and believable character.

I would have given this even fewer stars but there was at times some good dialogue between characters. Enough to keep me reading to the end.